GRIEVING relatives today condemned plans to rebuild and fly the Catalina seaplane which claimed the life of Southampton mayor Mike Andrews.

His former partner, Elizabeth Longman, branded the decision by a consortium of aviation enthusiasts as "insensitive" and "selfish".

Speaking publicly for the first time since last July's tragedy, she attacked the move after it emerged that the flying boat left Alton yesterday on a low-loader bound for an airfield in Lasham, Hampshire and could be flying again within six months.

Ms Longman said: "I'm surprised and upset that anyone could be so insensitive, and I know his aunt, Joan Andrews, will be very distressed by this.

"We have both been so quiet about the whole thing out of respect to those who died, but the time has come to say that we are angry about it.

"I had absolutely no idea that this was happening. So many things have been kept from us about this." The crash also claimed the life of Eastleigh airport worker Peter Shave.

The Catalina craft - which was Britain's only operational flying boat - was on a VIP flight over Southampton Water, with 18 passengers and crew, when a demonstration of its abilities went tragically wrong.

The flying boat sank beneath the waves after one of its floats exploded on touch down.

An investigation showed that tubes operating the nose landing-gear bay doors were rusty and this probably caused the crash.

But the plane's owners were not found liable because normal safety check procedures did not include the doors.

It is understood that a consortium of followers devoted to preserving Catalina aircraft have come up with the money to restore it to a condition where it can fly again.

Current Southampton Mayor Derek Burke - who became the city's first citizen last week - said the Catalina flying boat should be left as a memorial to Mr Andrews, and to Eastleigh man Mr Shave, who also died in the tragedy.

Mr Burke - himself a survivor of the crash - added: "I must say I am shocked and do think it should be left as a memorial to a person who served Southampton so well, and to Mr Shave, who also died.

"This has also come at an especially poignant time - round the time of mayor-making. I am very surprised."

Non-swimmer Mr Andrews, 51, helped to save the lives of other passengers on board the stricken craft but was unable to escape himself.

He had been elected Mayor of Southampton just two months before the crash.

Mr Shave, 43, had taken a seat on the doomed flying boat as he had a life-long ambition to fly in a Catalina.

The consortium behind the controversial plan was unavailable for comment today.

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